[mou] Northwest Minnesota Birding Report- Friday, April 2, 2004

[Jeanie Joppru]

This is the Northwest Minnesota Birding Report for Friday, April 2, 2004
sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. You may
also hear this report by calling (218) 847-5743 or 1-800-433-1888.

With the coming of warmer weather and longer days this week, the
migration has picked up speed. Waterfowl are appearing, raptors are
still moving north, and the early blackbirds, thrushes, and sparrows
have advanced at least as far as Marshall County.

>From Douglas County, Susan Wiste reported BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER,
and EASTERN BLUEBIRD.=20

Alma Ronningen saw a FOX SPARROW on March 27th in Otter Tail County, and
on the 31st, an EASTERN PHOEBE showed up. Dan and Sandy Thimgan saw an
EASTERN BLUEBIRD  there on March 26th. On the 27th, DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANT, RING-BILLED GULL, KILLDEER, and SONG SPARROW appeared; on the
29th, WOOD DUCK, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCK,  HOODED MERGANSER,
PIED-BILLED GREBE, and HERRING GULL were  seen.

Mary Wyatt observed five species of hawks, including RED-SHOULDERED
HAWK, in Becker County; a nesting GREAT HORNED OWL was found, and
several species of ducks. Mary also reported a FOX SPARROW in Becker
County on April 1st.

Mike and Lori Becker at the Wetland, Pines, and Prairies Audubon
Sanctuary reported that spring migration is progressing there. At the
Melo holding pond located at 160th St. and 240th Ave NW in Polk County,
they saw more than one thousand birds including several species of
ducks, many CANADA GEESE, some swans, and even a few unidentified
shorebirds. The most exciting observation was a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL at
the sanctuary. Bruce Flaig observed a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK taking a COMMON
REDPOLL on March 27th. Gladwyn Lynn reported his first sighting of a
NORTHERN SHOVELER for the season. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were also
reported in Polk County. Donna and Leon Thoreson observed a GREAT HORNED
OWL of the very light  Arctic race on March 29th. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK,
the first reported this season, was seen by Terry Tollefson on March
28th. A BREWER'S BLACKBIRD was reported by Randy Chaffee on April 1st.

Shelley Steva saw a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD in Red Lake County on March
27th. There were two reports of GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS in that county
this week both along CR 1 east of Plummer.=20

Shelley also saw four GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS in Pennington County
along US Highway 59 south of Thief River Falls. She reported a MOURNING
DOVE, CEDAR WAXWING, and COMMON GRACKLE in Thief River Falls this week.
I had a visit from a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS on March 27th, and the
next day a flock of about 100 AMERICAN ROBINS came by. On April 1st, a
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK caught a DARK-EYED JUNCO by driving it against our
front window. Gary Tischer reported a flock of TUNDRA SWANS seen flying
over Thief River Falls.

Linda Johnson had 200 AMERICAN ROBINS, some CEDAR WAXWINGS, and TREE
SPARROWS  in her Marshall County yard on March 26th. Diana Morkassel
reported a MOURNING DOVE in the yard on March 27th. Zeann Linder visited
Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge on March 27th and  reported many
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS on the refuge. Other species seen included NORTHERN
HARRIER, HORNED LARK, and NORTHERN SHRIKE. Gary Tischer reported that by
April 1st, many species of ducks had reached the refuge in small
numbers. These included GADWALL, MALLARD, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN
SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL,  RING-NECKED DUCK, COMMON MERGANSER, and
HOODED MERGANSER. About twenty BALD EAGLES are being seen throughout the
refuge.

Bob and Adele Powell in Roseau County reported BALD EAGLE, and DARK-EYED
JUNCO seen on March 29th.

Thanks to Gary Tischer, Mike and Lori Becker, Mary Wyatt, Randy Chaffee,
Bob and Adele Powell, Shelley Steva, Linda Johnson, Diana Morkassel,
Bruce Flaig, Gladwyn Lynne, and Zeann Linder for their reports.

Please report bird sightings to Jeanie Joppru by email, no later than
Thursday each week, at ajjoppru@wiktel.com OR call the Detroit Lakes
Chamber's toll free number: 1-800-542-3992. Detroit Lakes area birders
please call 847-9202. Please include the county where the sighting took
place. When reporting by email please put "NW Bird Report" in the
subject line of your message. The next scheduled update of this report
is Friday, April 9, 2004.